Shock Absorber Service - Cadillac 1937 LaSalle VVI Information

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R E A R W H E E L S U S P E N S I O N
6. M o v e the regulator handle up and down two
or three times, returning it to the " f i r m " position.
T h e n check both right-hand control levers to
see that they are still i n the fully closed position.
If not, shorten one or both rods still further.
7. Shorten or lengthen the yoke at the left
rear shock absorber so that the control lever is
in the fully closed position. A g a i n move the
regulator handle and again check both rear control
levers. If the left rear control lever closes before
the right, lengthen the left-hand rod rather than
shorten the right-hand rod to obtain proper
synchronization.
8. Adjust the yoke at the left front shock
absorber so t h a t the control lever is i n the fully
closed position. A g a i n move the regulator handle
and again check b o t h left-hand levers.
9. M a k e sure that the screws holding the shock
absorbers to the frame are tight and that the
pivots at the lower end of the rear shock absorber
links are also tight. In order to tighten the shock
absorber link pivots properly, the stabilizer links
should be temporarily disconnected.
This procedure coordinates the control levers
so that the lever on each shock absorber is fully
closed when the hand control o n the steering
column is all the way up in the " f i r m " position.
W i t h all four shock absorbers i n the " f i r m " posi-
tion at the same time, they will operate simul-
taneously throughout the full range of control.
10. Shock Absorber Service
The only service ordinarily required b y the
shock absorbers, aside from periodic checking of
the liquid level, is the correction of either noisy
operation or unsatisfactory riding qualities.
Noisy operation of the rear shock absorbers
on some series 37-65, 70, 75 and 85 cars, noticeable
when driving over rough pavement, m a y be due
to the shock absorber pistons rotating and s t r i k i n g
•the sides of the cam. T h e remedy for correction
of this difficulty is to install new anti-rotation
-springs i n the shock absorbers. These springs are
.available from U n i t e d M o t o r s Service.
...i ... Note: Late type shock absorbers having anti-
rotation springs incorporated in their
v design may be identified by a letter " B "
stamped on the hub of the shock absorber
:•" arm. Early type shock absorbers did
not have these springs.
Another cause of noisy operation of shock
i absorbers is looseness somewhere in the shock
absorbers or shock absorber linkage. In case of
-such trouble check and tighten the entire shock
absorber mechanism. T h i s means, first of all,
checking and tightening the shock absorbers on
the frame; m a k i n g certain that the arm is tight
on the splined shaft and going over and tightening
all of the linkage.
In m a k i n g this check-up, it is not enough
simply to look at the connections and decide that
they " l o o k " sufficiently tight; a wrench must be
used at every point and everything well-tightened.
It is also important to make certain that all
four shock absorbers are filled w i t h shock absorber
fluid and that there is no air in the cylinders or
passages. In case of complaint, it may be necessary
to bleed a l l four shock absorbers to get a l l of the
air out of the cylinders and passages.
T o do this properly, make sure that the shock
absorber is correctly mounted and thoroughly
tightened to the car frame, then remove the filler
plug and fill w i t h shock absorber fluid. R e i n s t a l l
the plug securely and, w i t h the link disconnected,
move the shock absorber arm up and down several
times the full length of its travel.
T h i s operation of adding fluid, reinstalling the
plug and working the a r m should be repeated until
all of the air is worked out of the shock absorber.
T h i s m a y take three or four operations. T h e
shock absorber is satisfactorily bled when no
more fluid can be added after working the arm
in the manner just described, or when there is
absolutely no play in the arm. A l w a y s have the
filler plug tightly in place when m o v i n g the arm,
otherwise more air will be drawn into the shock
absorber fluid.
In cases of unsatisfactory riding, not due simply
to lack of lubrication, correction can ordinarily
be made by putting the shock absorbers in good
operating condition.
Unsatisfactory riding may be caused b y insuffi-
cient absorber fluid, dirt in the fluid, or improper
setting of the control adjustment. T h e first
things to be done in cases of complaint is to check
the level of the fluid i n the shock absorbers,
insufficient fluid can be corrected by careful
bleeding and refilling as previously described.
O n l y after it is k n o w n that all shock absorbers
contain the proper amount of fluid should any
other tests be made to determine the cause of
unsatisfactory riding qualities.
D i r t i n the shock absorber fluid may cause
unsatisfactory operation by causing the valves to
stick. In such cases the difficulty can usually be
recognized b y m o v i n g the shock absorber arm
up and down. T h e presence of dirt on the valves
will be indicated b y the lack of resistance in one
or both directions. In case d i r t is present, the
shock absorber should be removed, thoroughly
cleaned and blown out w i t h air, and refilled w i t h
clean shock absorber fluid.